Posts
It's official! In October GreatestHockeyLegends.com, now entering it's 4th season, had the third busiest month in site history!
When you combine sister site HockeyBookReviews.com I blew away my previous best for readership.
A big thank you goes out to my loyal readers.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Bob Gracie
Bob Gracie was a arrogant, cocky person who rubbed many people the wrong way. That's probably why he moved all over the hockey map in his career. But he was also a talented goal scorer and playmaker. Though his NHL numbers never stood out like they did in the juniors and minors, Gracie was a consistent scoring threat in his day.Gracie started his career with the Toronto Maples Leafs in 1930-31, but he also played with the Boston Bruins, New York Americans, Montreal Maroons, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Black Hawks. He also served with several teams in the AHL and PCHL before his career was done by the close of the 1940s.
One hockey story, which may be more legend than fact, has Gracie calling his own goal in a sudden death overtime with the Leafs against the Maroons. Gracie had been sitting on the bench for most of the extra period when Toronto coach Dick Irvin finally dispatched Gracie over the boards with about 3 minutes left in the period. Gracie supposedly skated over to the official scorers bench and said "Get a pencil. Write these words - Goal by Gracie." The scorer smiled but was less than impressed. But sure enough, Gracie took a pass from Andy Blair and fired the winning goal!
In 379 NHL games he scored 82 goals and 191 points. His best season may have come in 1934-35 when he joined the Montreal Maroons. Playing on a line with Herb Cain and Gus Marker, Gracie helped the Maroons win the Stanley Cup.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Montreal Maroons Greatest Players
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Sammy McManus
Irish born Sammy McManus moved with his parents to Toronto in 1912 when he was barely two years old and started playing hockey at a very young age. As a 17-year old in 1928 he started playing real competitive hockey in the OHA. Sammy played for the Toronto Canoe Club for two seasons, and with the Toronto Goodyears for one in the local Toronto league.
During the following three seasons he changed clubs and locations each year. in 1930-31 Sammy played for the New Glasgow Tigers in the Cape Breton Senior Hockey League. In 1931-32 he went to play in Fredericton for the Fredericton Capitals of the Maritime Senior Hockey League (MSHL). The following season he landed in Moncton where he played two seasons for the Moncton Hawks, also in the MSHL.
Sammy was an instant hit in Moncton. During his first year with the Hawks he led them to a first place finish in the MSHL and to a prestigious Allan Cup win. The following season (1933-34) Sammy had an even more successful season. He led the entire MSHL in goals (25 in 38 games) and had 48 points. But more importantly the Hawks were able to repeat both their win in the MSHL as well as the Allan Cup. They also won the short lived Willis Cup that year when they defeated the Detroit White Stars to become the North American Senior Champs.Sammy was also a first team All-Star. The 1933-34 Moncton team was in fact so strong that they were regarded almost as good as any of the NHL teams.
Despite all the success the franchise folded and Sammy had to look around for another team. The NHL Montreal Maroons had kept an eye on Sammy after his fine 1933-34 season. They signed him as a free agent and he went on to play for them at the start of the 1934-35 season. (October 31,1934) It was not easy to get a spot on the Maroons team and Sammy was riding the ´bench for most of the time. In the 25 games that he was dressed he only managed to get one assist. He also played a couple of shifts in one game of the 1935 playoffs, his only career appearance in the NHL playoffs. That season Sammy also played for the Windsor Bulldogs (IAHL) and New Haven Eagles in the Can-Am league
Almost exactly one year later Sammy was traded to the NY Rangers for $ 10,000 in cash. The Rangers team had about the same depth on their roster as the Maroons, so they shipped Sammy to their minor league team in the Can-Am league, the Philadelphia Ramblers. He had a fine season with the Ramblers getting 40 points in 43 games, making the first All-Star team.
The September month in 1936 was Sammy's most hectic ever. Early in September the Maroons bought Sammy back from New York. A couple of days later he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, but the same day (September 10), before he even realized that he had been traded to the Canadiens, he was once again traded.
His new address was Boston. The Bruins shipped him to their farm team in Providence (AHL) wherehe played the entire 1936-37 season, except for a one game call up by the Bruins. That proved to be his last NHL game. In 1937-38 Sammy was named to the second All-Star team in the AHL for the Providence Reds.
Sammy's NHL career was over but he continued to play in the AHL and AHA for quite some time. In 38-39 he played for Hershey (AHL). In 39-40 he split his time between Pittsburgh and New Haven (AHL). In 40-41 he played for Kansas City (AHA), 41-42 for St.Louis and in 42-43 he split his time between Washington and New Haven (AHL). While playing for St.Louis in 41-42 he was selected to the second All-Star team.
The 1942-43 season was Sammy's last in the USA. During the seven years after he had played his last NHL game he collected 254 points in 310 games and was among the scoring leaders most of the time. He also only collected 81 Pim's during this seven year (310 games) span.
Sammy returned to the Maritime leagues in Canada and played for the Saint John Beavers (43-44),Moncton RCAF Flyers,Saint John Garrison and Saint John Beavers (44-45). His two last seasons were excellent. He was the league leader in 45-46 while playing for the Moncton Maroons, getting 42 points (27+15) in 13 games. In his last season he played for the Moncton Hawks and scored 71 points in 32 games.
Sammy was an excellent playoff performer. During his last four trips to the playoffs in the Maritime league he always led the playoff scorers in either goals or assists. Sammy retired in style. He was playing great hockey until the end of his career and could have continued to play for another three or four years.
Sam McManus is the grandfather of Scott Pellerin.
During the following three seasons he changed clubs and locations each year. in 1930-31 Sammy played for the New Glasgow Tigers in the Cape Breton Senior Hockey League. In 1931-32 he went to play in Fredericton for the Fredericton Capitals of the Maritime Senior Hockey League (MSHL). The following season he landed in Moncton where he played two seasons for the Moncton Hawks, also in the MSHL.
Sammy was an instant hit in Moncton. During his first year with the Hawks he led them to a first place finish in the MSHL and to a prestigious Allan Cup win. The following season (1933-34) Sammy had an even more successful season. He led the entire MSHL in goals (25 in 38 games) and had 48 points. But more importantly the Hawks were able to repeat both their win in the MSHL as well as the Allan Cup. They also won the short lived Willis Cup that year when they defeated the Detroit White Stars to become the North American Senior Champs.Sammy was also a first team All-Star. The 1933-34 Moncton team was in fact so strong that they were regarded almost as good as any of the NHL teams.
Despite all the success the franchise folded and Sammy had to look around for another team. The NHL Montreal Maroons had kept an eye on Sammy after his fine 1933-34 season. They signed him as a free agent and he went on to play for them at the start of the 1934-35 season. (October 31,1934) It was not easy to get a spot on the Maroons team and Sammy was riding the ´bench for most of the time. In the 25 games that he was dressed he only managed to get one assist. He also played a couple of shifts in one game of the 1935 playoffs, his only career appearance in the NHL playoffs. That season Sammy also played for the Windsor Bulldogs (IAHL) and New Haven Eagles in the Can-Am league
Almost exactly one year later Sammy was traded to the NY Rangers for $ 10,000 in cash. The Rangers team had about the same depth on their roster as the Maroons, so they shipped Sammy to their minor league team in the Can-Am league, the Philadelphia Ramblers. He had a fine season with the Ramblers getting 40 points in 43 games, making the first All-Star team.
The September month in 1936 was Sammy's most hectic ever. Early in September the Maroons bought Sammy back from New York. A couple of days later he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, but the same day (September 10), before he even realized that he had been traded to the Canadiens, he was once again traded.
His new address was Boston. The Bruins shipped him to their farm team in Providence (AHL) wherehe played the entire 1936-37 season, except for a one game call up by the Bruins. That proved to be his last NHL game. In 1937-38 Sammy was named to the second All-Star team in the AHL for the Providence Reds.
Sammy's NHL career was over but he continued to play in the AHL and AHA for quite some time. In 38-39 he played for Hershey (AHL). In 39-40 he split his time between Pittsburgh and New Haven (AHL). In 40-41 he played for Kansas City (AHA), 41-42 for St.Louis and in 42-43 he split his time between Washington and New Haven (AHL). While playing for St.Louis in 41-42 he was selected to the second All-Star team.
The 1942-43 season was Sammy's last in the USA. During the seven years after he had played his last NHL game he collected 254 points in 310 games and was among the scoring leaders most of the time. He also only collected 81 Pim's during this seven year (310 games) span.
Sammy returned to the Maritime leagues in Canada and played for the Saint John Beavers (43-44),Moncton RCAF Flyers,Saint John Garrison and Saint John Beavers (44-45). His two last seasons were excellent. He was the league leader in 45-46 while playing for the Moncton Maroons, getting 42 points (27+15) in 13 games. In his last season he played for the Moncton Hawks and scored 71 points in 32 games.
Sammy was an excellent playoff performer. During his last four trips to the playoffs in the Maritime league he always led the playoff scorers in either goals or assists. Sammy retired in style. He was playing great hockey until the end of his career and could have continued to play for another three or four years.
Sam McManus is the grandfather of Scott Pellerin.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Dunc Munro
This is Dunc Munro, courtesy of the rare 1924-25 Dominion Chocolate hockey card set. His card would have been pretty popular back then. After all, he had just led Canada to the gold medal in the 1924 Olympic Games at Chamonix, France.Munro was one of hockey's great leaders. He captained the Toronto Granites senior team that had earned the right to represent Canada at the Olympics. The Granites, made up largely of ex-servicemen form the first World War, were virtually impossible to beat, winning back to back Allan Cups as the amateur champions of Canada in 1922 and 1923.
In 1924 they were off to the Olympics where they faced no real challenge. They beat Sweden 22-0, Britain 19-0, Czechoslovakia 30-0, Switzerland 33-0 and the United States 6-1.
Munro was the captain of the Olympic team as well. He scored 16 goals in those 5 games. He and Beattie Ramsay were the only two defensemen Canada iced in that tournament. It is likely both players played every minute of every game. Plus, he refereed the Belgium-United States contest!
Upon his return to Canada his services became quite sought after by the professional ranks. The Montreal Maroons, a new team marketed to English speaking Montreal, targeted the 23 year old Scottish-born Munro immediately. There is some speculation that the deep-pocketed Maroons made Munro the richest man in pro-hockey at the time. Despite being one of the younger players on the first year Maroons team, Munro was named captain again.
It was not long before the Maroons challenged for hockey supremacy. In just the team's second year, 1925-36, Munro helped to lead them to the NHL championship and then to the Stanley Cup championship, defeating the west's Victoria Cougars.
The Maroons returned to the Stanley Cup finals in 1928, only to lose famously to Lester Patrick and the New York Rangers. Patrick of course was the silver haired 44 year old coach who played in net in game 2 of the series because Lorne Chabot became injured.
Munro was described as "beefy" who had some legendary battles with the Canadiens pint-sized Aurel Joliat. In one incident fought like "enraged bulldogs," both on the ice and in the penalty box.
Munro's health became a serious concern in the 1928-29 season. He would play in only one game after suffering a heart attack. He turned to coaching, and in 1929-30 he returned for a full season in 1929-30 as both coach and player. He left the ice again after just 4 games in 1930-31.
Hoping to resurrect his hockey career Munro signed on with the cross-city rival Montreal Canadiens for the 1931-32 season, playing a full schedule and by most accounts playing well. It would be his last season on the ice, as he turned his full attention to coaching.
Munro would suffer several heart attacks over the years, causing his health and style of life to deteriorate. He died in 1958, just shy of his 57th birthday.
Dave Trottier
Dave Trottier was one of the greatest amateur left wings in the history of hockey, and his numbers show it.He played for the St . Michaels Majors of the OHA and led the OHA in goals with 13 in 6 games in 1923-24. The next season he led the OHA with 7 assists.
He then played senior hockey with the Toronto Varsity Grads. In 1926-27, he scored 23 goals in 11 games, had an OHA Senior-league leading 8 assists for 31 points, and the Varsity Grads won the Allan Cup as Canada's amateur champions.
But 1927-28 was Trottier's year of glory. He scored a whopping 33 goals,10 assists for 43 points in just 12 games, all of which led the OHA Seniors. The best was yet to come, though. Toronto represented Canada t the 1928 Olympics, winning the gold medal. The speedy Trotter was just phenomenal in the three games Canada played as he scored 12 goals, had 3 assists for 15 points, all of which led Olympic scorers.
It was not surprising, then, when Eddie Gerard, manager-coach of the Montreal Maroons and Conn Smythe, manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, both wanted Trottier for their teams. He was on the Toronto negotiation list, but suitable arrangements were made to let the Maroons sign him. The Maroons paid $10,000 in September of 1928 to secure his professional playing rights.
Dave got off to a bad start when he suffered a cut in his neck during a scramble, and went 22 games before scoring a goal. He worked in various combinations and finally hit his stride in 1931-32, scoring 26 goals in the 48 game NHL schedule, leading the Maroons in scoring with 44 points and finishing 6th in NHL scoring. He had been playing on a line with Paul Haynes and Glen Brydson. A great stickhandler and a willing fighter, Trottier was always ready to mix it up with any of the boys. Indeed, he had 94 minutes in penalties in his outstanding 1931-32 season.
After 1931-32, though, he was not to have another outstanding season in the NHL. He scored 16 goals and had 31 points in 1932-33, but would never even come close to that in any of the following seasons. He remained a valuable player, a coach's dream really, by earning a reputation as one of the game's top checking forwards. Had the NHL had an award honouring defensive forwards back then, Dave Trottier likely would have won one year.
In 1934-35 he played on a line with Russ Blinco and Earl Robinson. The Maroons won the Stanley Cup that year and Trottier was a star in the finals against Toronto. He scored the winning goal in the first game and was brilliant throughout the series despite receiving another skate cut.
He played three more years with Blinco and Robinson but seemingly was accident prone. In 1935-36 he suffered an ankle injury that forced him out of several games, and the following year was again out with a damaged shoulder and a severe heel cut. In the playoffs against Boston, he was cut above the eye in a stick-swinging duel with Dit Clapper, but played well as the Maroons eliminated the Bruins.
The Maroons suspended operations after 1937-38 to regroup from their losses. But when they sold most of their players to other teams, it was evident the Maroons were through for good. Trottier's rights were held by the dormant franchise, but the Maroons sold him to Detroit in December of 1938. In the first game he played for the Red Wings he received another bad skate cut in the neck when players fell over him on the ice.
He played a few more games after his recovery and then played for the Pittsburgh Hornets of the AHL before retiring at the end of the 1938-39 season.
Born in Pembroke, Ont. on June 25th, 1906, Dave Trottier died on November 13th, 1956 in Halifax, N.S. Though he was a solid NHLer who scored 121 goals in 446 NHL games way back in the 1930s, Trottier will always be remembered for his role in the 1928 Olympic gold medal winning team.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Russ Blinco
As a rookie Russ Blinco sure caught the eye of the National Hockey League.
A clever though quiet regular of the Montreal Maroons in the 1930s, Blinco's inaugural season in 1933-34 saw him named as the NHL's rookie of the year. He scored 14 goals and 23 points in 31 games that year, only the second year the NHL awarded the Calder trophy.
The native of Grand'mere Quebec had bigger trophies in mind in his sophomore season. He would score a career high 27 points in a full 48 game schedule, including a 4 goal game agains the New York Americans. He would add 2 goals and 4 points in 7 playoff contests, his second goal was the game winner in game two of Maroon's three game sweep of Toronto in the Stanley Cup finals. It was the last Stanley Cup title in Montreal Maroons history.
Blinco would continue to toil with the Maroons for three more seasons. The Maroons faced increasing financial difficulties as the Great Depression's grip held firm.
By August of 1938 the Maroons had suspended operations and began selling off their players. Blinco, Baldy Northcott and Earl Robinson were sold to Chicago for $30,000.
Blinco would play just one season in Chicago before retiring.
Blinco retired having scored 59 goals and 66 assists for 125 points in 259 career NHL games. Blinco was described an intelligent pivot known for his gentlemanly play and proficient effectiveness. He often played with wingers Robinson and Dave Trottier.
His best game came in the 1934-35 season when he scored
Upon his retirement, Blinco made his home in Bedford, Quebec, working as an accountant. The former McGill University star student remained active in the hockey scene, managing the rink and coaching and refereeing the game at many local levels.
A clever though quiet regular of the Montreal Maroons in the 1930s, Blinco's inaugural season in 1933-34 saw him named as the NHL's rookie of the year. He scored 14 goals and 23 points in 31 games that year, only the second year the NHL awarded the Calder trophy.The native of Grand'mere Quebec had bigger trophies in mind in his sophomore season. He would score a career high 27 points in a full 48 game schedule, including a 4 goal game agains the New York Americans. He would add 2 goals and 4 points in 7 playoff contests, his second goal was the game winner in game two of Maroon's three game sweep of Toronto in the Stanley Cup finals. It was the last Stanley Cup title in Montreal Maroons history.
Blinco would continue to toil with the Maroons for three more seasons. The Maroons faced increasing financial difficulties as the Great Depression's grip held firm.
By August of 1938 the Maroons had suspended operations and began selling off their players. Blinco, Baldy Northcott and Earl Robinson were sold to Chicago for $30,000.
Blinco would play just one season in Chicago before retiring.
Blinco retired having scored 59 goals and 66 assists for 125 points in 259 career NHL games. Blinco was described an intelligent pivot known for his gentlemanly play and proficient effectiveness. He often played with wingers Robinson and Dave Trottier.
His best game came in the 1934-35 season when he scored
Upon his retirement, Blinco made his home in Bedford, Quebec, working as an accountant. The former McGill University star student remained active in the hockey scene, managing the rink and coaching and refereeing the game at many local levels.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)